A recent media wave has been touting the popularity of chin enhancement surgery, quoting recently released statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In 2011, the number of patients undergoing chin surgery increased 71%—a huge leap.

Many facial plastic surgeons like Dr. Fernando Burstein and patients alike are citing the lower face as one of the areas that begins to show signs of age first. Skin under the chin and along the neck often begins to sag, making our chins look recessed and giving us the unwanted “turkey waddle” characteristic of aging. Similarly, patients are noticing that from the side, their profiles don’t exhibit the distinct jawline they’d once held in their youth.

There are multiple options for those looking to enhance their chins. “Chinplants” are commonly made from hard silicone and shaped like a narrow chin guard to augment the chin. Inserted surgically, these prosthetics sit on the edge of the chin with scars hidden under the chin or within the mouth. While this method is effective, patients are more likely to experience infection and rejection of the chin implant materials.

True to his anti-aging philosophy, Dr. Burstein believes in approaching chin enhancement naturally, using the patient’s own tissues to minimize the chance of infection and implant rejection. Depending on cosmetic goals, Dr. Burstein moves a patient’s own chin bone forward during genioplasty instead of a foreign object to augment the jawline. This helps tighten loose neck muscles, helping to increase the anti-aging effect, and can be combined with neck liposuction for an overall lower face rejuvenation.

It’s not only women looking to increase the definition in their jawlines, chin enhancement surgery was up 76% among men alone last year. Often performed in conjunction with rhinoplasty surgery to completely balance overall facial proportions, genioplasty is just one procedure that can help patients achieve facial balance. Male rhinoplasty is becoming more popular, too, with more men investing in cosmetic surgery to look as young as they feel and compete with younger individuals in a work environment.

Dr. Burstein works to enhance, not change, a patient’s appearance and achieve their desired aesthetic. For more information on plastic surgery news and events, follow Dr. Burstein on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.